Iran smashes 'terrorist cell', warning of threat from Islamic State

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Wednesday it had smashed a terrorist cell in a western region where authorities allege groups have been recruiting for Islamic State.

"A terrorist cell in Kermanshah province near the border was identified in recent days. The members were arrested in an operation and their weapons were confiscated," the Corps said in a statement reported by state news agency IRNA.

On Tuesday a commander was quoted by the Iranian Labour News Agency as saying the Corps and intelligence ministry had rounded up groups in Kermanshah recruiting fighters for the Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State.

Mountainous Kermanshah, close to the Iraqi border, has a largely Sunni Kurdish population and a history of insurgency against the Shi'ite Muslim Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Today part of Daesh (Islamic State) is in north Afghanistan and are interested in approaching Iran's border but the Iranian nation should rest assured that its sons in the army, the Guards, and police are ready," Iranian Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan was quoted as telling the Fars news agency on Tuesday.

"The threat of Daesh is not a new and serious threat to us. If they cross the red line of 40 kilometers from our borders, they will face a crushing response," he added.

Shi'ite power Iran has ramped up its military presence in Iraq and Syria, where Islamic State controls large areas. The Sunni Islamist group views Shi'ites as heretics.

The total number of Iranian troops killed in Syria in a major ground offensive against insurgents since September reached 50 last week, according to Iran's Fars news agency.

Iranian authorities say they arrested more than 40 suspected militants around the country this month, half of whom were planning to reach Iraq and Syria.